Hon. Judge John Lewis congratulates James Cressey for completing the Strafford County Drug Court program during a “Rite of Passage” ceremony at Strafford Superior Court Monday afternoon.
John Huff/ Staff photographer

DOVER — At her lowest point, Lauryn Douglas was living on the streets in Dorchester, Mass., where her life of “active addiction” had gotten so bad, her parents ultimately hired a private investigator to locate her.

“I was in my addiction so deep I didn't know how to get out,” she said.

Her parents filed a Section 35, which under Massachusetts state law, commits a person dealing with substance abuse to a facility. Douglas went to state prison.

“Every day I thank my parents, God and the legal system for doing for me what I couldn't do for myself,” she said.

Having gone through drug court, which was not without hurdles, Douglas stated Monday she can honestly say she is “responsible.” She hopes to complete a bachelor's degree in child advocacy so she can help others deal with the kinds of problems she's faced.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Lauryn Douglas reads to friends, family and counselors about her experiences going through the Strafford County Drug Court program during a “Rite of Passage” ceremony at Strafford Superior Court Monday afternoon.

“I know I'm not meant to be an active addict the rest of my life,” she said.

Facing and overcoming their fears was a common theme of five members of Strafford County Drug Court who celebrated their Rite of Passage Monday during a ceremony held at Strafford County Superior Court.

When he left jail, Jeremy Johnson thought it was unfair having to immediately begin his journey with the drug court program.

Returning on Monday as a successful graduate and guest speaker for the ceremony, his views on the program changed.

The 33-year-old told the five people about to move on from the program that it was only through the steps accomplished with the help of counselors and sponsors through drug court that was able to “gain so much,” including a full-time job, a new vehicle, a wife and homeownership.

“Everything was chaotic, it was nuts,” he said of his life before going through the program.

Johnson shared the story of his reliance on alcohol, turning to the substance at a young age dealing with the effects of an alcoholic mother, multiple stepfathers, and an abusive home. Eventually, though, his drug of choice transitioned from something he abused as a coping mechanism to something he couldn't function without.

“I didn't get enjoyment out of it anymore,” he said, adding he had to use it just to get out of bed in the morning.

At 19, Johnson said he was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which didn't faze him. Neither did going through kidney failure at 18, he said.

It wasn't until 2009, when he was sentenced to state prison with a deal to enroll in drug court, things began to actually change for him. Johnson no longer has any trace of hepatitis C in his body due to his healthy lifestyle and no longer tests positive for the disease.

“My life has completely changed,” he said.

Offering some words of encouragement, Johnson said what's helped him remain sober and continue his journey forward is always trying to do positive things and taking life one day at a time.

“Everything that they made me do, it all made sense,” he said of the clarity gained through the program, to which he credits his success, saying it helped him to be the person, husband and father he has become.

Before being handed a certificate along with four other program graduates, James Cressey said he began his journey through the program with an entirely different mindset.

Fear ruled his life, he said, until alcohol provided “liquid courage” he came to rely on — making alcohol is drug of choice.

He said he found faith in the substance as it filled any loneliness and emptiness he felt and for the first time, he felt he had nothing to fear.

A robbery charge landed Cressey in prison for four years where he had an opportunity to change his thinking, he said. But it wasn't until after a few more problems arose including crashing his car into a Hampton toll booth and abusing pills his doctor had prescribed him that he was again given an opportunity to really change his thinking. He said he began to replace fear with love instead.

“I had a new perspective on life from the love people showed me at meetings,” he said.

Though he was determined to get sober entirely on his own, drug court provided the discipline and structure his life was lacking.

“I'm proud of where I stand today and I can honestly say I've never been proud of anything in my life,” he said.

Drug Court director Alex Casale described Chad Cullen as a participant who was headstrong and opinionated entering the program. When Cullen spoke, he admitted in the beginning it was difficult to envision the culmination of work done through the program.

“In the beginning of the program, I honestly never thought I'd be standing up here. But, I'm here,” he said, adding he's walked through many fears with the support offered him in drug court.

“They believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself,” he said of the counselors, case workers and sponsors he's worked with.

He said in addition to learning to be humble, he's also learned the importance of being compassionate to other addicts and alcoholics who need a helping hand.

Amy James said her life was a mess before she entered the program, and she was even hesitant to take the first step.

“I thought drug court was out to get me,” she said.

James said she learned about her disease through the program and how it affected people around her. Not being able to stay sober for more than a day before drug court, James said she's now been clean for 18 months.

And, like the others moving forward with her on Monday, there was one crucial element that was no longer overpowering in her life.